Predictive Models to Inform Spatial Planning for Scottish Marine Fish Farms

Spatial planning for coastal aquaculture ensures that the locations of farms are suitable to all relevant stakeholders. The Scottish Government has published “Locational Guidelines”, where lochs and voes around Scotland are divided into three Categories according to their sensitivity to further aquaculture development, to aid this process. Predictive modeling is used to estimate the degree of nutrient enhancement and benthic impact arising from existing aquaculture development. These are reviewed every three months and are then published on the Marine Scotland-Science (MSS) website. The models used for the assessment are described.